Already 3 million views for this very “muscular” arrest video. Six CRS tackle to the ground a man showing, on the images, no sign of violence. The facts took place on Saturday April 15 on the sidelines of the demonstration against the pension reform in Rennes. The reactions are numerous.
During the demonstration against the pension reform this Saturday, April 15, in Rennes, a scene was particularly filmed from all angles. On the images of many journalists, a man showing no sign of threat to the police is tackled to the ground by six CRS. The method used is shocking. This violence seems disproportionate to observers.
“Belly tackle, mock choke key, knee on neck, a CRS standing on his ankle… Nothing justified such violence” Still breathless in shock Anna Margueritat, journalist present closest to the arrest on April 15 in the streets of Rennes.
The general context of the scene is drawn by the many videos present on Twitter. Around 4:30 p.m., the official demonstration is over. In the city center of Rennes, there are still opponents of the pension reform present in the form of a so-called “wild” demonstration. The clashes in the city center are important. A vehicle was set on fire in a parking lot in the city center, store windows were destroyed, many garbage cans burned. The police are present and try to repel the demonstrators.
A woman is dragged on the ground for many meters. She clearly has nothing to do with the protest.
Anna Margueritat, journalist
At 4:40 p.m., a charge of CRS 8 is set up. Numerous throwing grenades and tear gas took place near the Place de Bretagne, on the Boulevard de la Liberté. “A woman is dragged on the ground for many meters. She clearly has nothing to do with the protest” says the journalist present at the scene who triggers her camera. “I ran to film the scene. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. A man wanted to intervene. He addressed the police verbally, without any gesture of violence”.
This scene takes place before the arrest which makes the internet react. It is also the subject of a report by the account Violences Police. The video was captured by reporter Louis Pines.
The sequel, filmed by a witness from his balcony, made 3 million views in three days. It is included in the Violences Policières account, which specializes in recording abuses committed by police officers.
The man in the white pants is thrown to the ground. His neck hits the sidewalk. As he gets up he addresses the agents who come towards him with their truncheons and grenade launchers. The man received a blow from a telescopic truncheon, then was dragged away by five CRS.
The video is silent. It is impossible to know what the arrested man said to the police. According to Anna Margueritat, who is present at the scene, nothing he said justifies such acts.
On the video it is visible that the man receives blows on the ground. Up to six officers block him, one stands on his ankle. The journalist hears these cries of pain and sees her face bleeding.
Anna Margueritat tries to intervene at this moment. “I saw that the CRS used prohibited gestures, which cost the life of George Floyd, Amada Traoré. I yelled at them to stop”.
In this moment of extreme tension, the CRS with the grenade launcher rifle points his weapon at close range at the journalist and at the people in the street. “He tells me that I insult them, threatens me to arrest me, whereas I have orally signified the mortal danger that this man was undergoing”.
For the lawyer, Olivier Pacheu, the use of force is “absolutely excessive on these images”. This specialist in criminal law specifies “the use must be proportionate to the immediate necessities. Here it is not the case, this scene is shocking”.
With these videos we discover what has existed for several years.
Olivier Pacheu, lawyer
The lawyer reveals that several complaints against the police in the context of the days of demonstrations in Renne have already been filed. “In this case as in other situations, people believe they are authorized to use violence up to the limit which is theirs and not the limit of the law”.
For Master Pacheu, “with these videos we discover what has existed for several years. There is a loss of control of some law enforcement officers.” The lawyer who pleads daily before the Criminal Court and the Court of Assizes of Rennes affirms that there is “a problem of regulation of police action”.
Lire : Pension reform. A demonstrator amputated with a testicle after an LBD shot
Contacted, Rennes prosecutor Philippe Astruc indicates that five complaints have been filed for violence resulting in mutilation. The Rennes prosecutor’s office entrusted these cases to the IGPN.
During this day of demonstrations and excesses, 14 people were taken into custody. Three were sentenced to prison on Monday. Two others were sentenced to judicial supervision.
